A. This question is like ‘Do we go to the Pure Land, or Heaven after death?’. According to the Sutras, there is no birth and death in the Pure Land, or Heaven. How would it be possible for the dead to enter where there is no death?
Enlightenment is to transcend death. So, there is a common question ‘Have you solved the great matter?’ in monastic community. ‘The great matter’ here refers to the matter of birth and death. This question means ‘Have you transcended your death?’ or ‘Have you attained enlightenment?’ Therefore, we should transcend death through enlightenment before being faced with it.
©Boo Ahm
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